Red Alert of Heatwave: Most of the states in North India are experiencing scorching heat. The Meteorological Department said that similar conditions will prevail in Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat for the next 5 days. A red alert for heatwave has been issued in these states. The Meteorological Department has predicted that the night of May 23 will be one of the hottest nights.
On Thursday, 8 people died due to heat wave in Rajasthan. The temperature in Barmer crossed 48 degrees for the second consecutive day. The temperature here reached 48.8 degrees. The temperature on the India-Pakistan border adjoining Jaisalmer reached 53 degrees Celsius.
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Cyclone Remal is forming in the Bay of Bengal
Due to low pressure in the Bay of Bengal, cyclonic storm Remal is forming. It will hit West Bengal and Bangladesh on 26 May. As a precaution, fishermen have been advised to stay away from the coast.
Effect: Due to heat, the demand for electricity increased in the country, increased by 20% in Rajasthan
According to data from the Ministry of Power, the demand for electricity in India reached its highest level of 237 gigawatts (GW) on Thursday. Earlier this week it was 234 gigawatts (GW). Earlier, the maximum demand for electricity was at a high of 243.27 gigawatts in September, 2023.
In Delhi, this demand has reached 8 thousand megawatts. The situation is similar in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Electricity consumption in Rajasthan has increased by 20%. The government said that if needed, electricity will be purchased from other states.
Holidays cancelled:Â
Leave of all doctors and paramedical staff of government hospitals in Rajasthan has been cancelled.
The Gautam Buddha Nagar district administration has declared a holiday for students of classes 9 to 12 in all schools in Noida and Greater Noida.
Water crisis:Â
According to the Central Water Commission (CWC), in the last seven days, the water level in 150 major reservoirs of India has reached the lowest level in five years. The water level in the Yamuna river in Delhi has decreased. Water supply has been affected in many areas.
Vegetables and pulses have become expensive up to 40% due to heat wave
Due to the heat wave, the current inflation of vegetables and pulses is expected to continue in the next month as well. The household food cost has increased due to the increase in the prices of potatoes, tomatoes, and onions in particular. In April, the prices of vegetables were 27.8% higher on an average than last year. Last month, the retail price of potatoes increased by 53% on a year-on-year basis.
Vegetables have a weightage of about 7.46% in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which calculates retail inflation. Due to rising prices of vegetables, pulses and cereals, the food inflation rate increased from 8.52% in March to 8.7% in April 2024. The RBI Governor has also said that vegetable prices may increase due to summer and may affect the inflation figures.
Inflation concerns in May-June, relief possible from July-August
According to Aditi Nair, Chief Economist of rating agency ICRA, inflation of food items will remain a matter of concern in May-June as well, because prices of perishable goods are likely to increase due to heatwave. Nair said that some reduction in inflation can be seen in July-August.
Weather news of the states sequentially…
Rajasthan: Temperature at Indo-Pak border is 53 degree Celsius; Alert in 13 districts today
Madhya Pradesh: Heat wave alert in half of MP- Temperatures cross 44 degrees in several districts including Bhopal and Indore; Gwalior-Chambal heat shifts to Malwa-Nimar
Chhattisgarh: Bemetara recorded the highest temperature at 43.3, no change expected in maximum temperature for next 2 days
Bihar: Heat wave will not last for 4 days: Weather will remain dry for 2 days, Arwal is the hottest
Haryana: Heatwave alert in all 22 districts; hot winds blowing at 40 KM speed
Uttar Pradesh: Rain alert in 17 districts, this time Ramal cyclone is bringing monsoon
Jharkhand: Yellow alert for rain till May 29, strong winds likely
What’s next: Intense heat expected at night in UP and Rajasthan, rain expected in 6 states
- Intense heat is expected in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan at night. Heatwave will prevail in Delhi and Punjab.
- In Kerala and West Bengal, coastal cities will experience winds blowing at a speed of 40 kilometres per hour.
- There will be heavy rains in West Bengal, Odisha, Andaman and Nicobar, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala and Lakshadweep.
- There is a red alert for rain in Kerala for two days. Red alert means more than 20 cm of rain is expected in 24 hours.
Monsoon Tracker:Â
The monsoon hit Sri Lanka between 19 and 21 May, by 23 May it reached the middle of Sri Lanka. The likely date for the monsoon to hit Kerala is May 31.
